By Ken Pontac

I never thought I’d be at the center of a rescue operation to save a young woman and her family from the horrors of war.

I’m a writer and animator from the Bay Area — not exactly the skill set you’d associate with covert operations. But when a longtime Facebook friend contacted me from what appeared to be the depths of hell, I knew I had to act.

My friend, her family and their cat survived the destruction of Mariupol, a Ukrainian city reduced to ash and rubble by Russian forces. For a month, she cowered in the basement of a bombed-out building, watching her home and history burn. When food ran out, she and her family were “liberated” by Russian soldiers and taken to a “filtration” camp.

She reached out to me, desperate for help. She described her harrowing conditions: sleeping on a filthy, freezing floor with her mother, grandmother and 200 other kidnapped Ukrainians. They were prisoners in every sense. Her message shook me to my core. I wasn’t a soldier or a diplomat — I was just a guy in California.

What I learned is that one person can do more than they think. I reached out to anyone who would listen — friends, colleagues, people on the street. Slowly, an international team came together: individuals with connections, resources and the willingness to risk something for strangers thousands of miles away. With their help, she and her family escaped the camp. They hid in Russian safe houses, couch-surfing their way toward freedom.

But freedom wasn’t waiting for them. A maze of red tape forced the family to return to their war-torn home, where they awaited international documents that could help them start over on the other side of the world. Every day, they lived with fear and uncertainty.

Her story isn’t over, but it taught me a vital lesson: Even in the face of overwhelming forces, we are not powerless. Ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things.

This lesson feels more urgent than ever as we face an ambiguous future. With President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office, the direction of U.S. policy on Ukraine — and the war itself — hangs in the balance. Will the U.S. continue to support Ukraine, or will we see a shift?

If I had waited for an official solution to my friend’s plight, I would have watched her story end in tragedy. Instead, I acted — and so did the people who joined me. None of us were extraordinary on our own. Together, we created a lifeline for a family that would have otherwise been lost to the chaos of war.

I put together a film, “Out From the Ashes,” that tells her story and the stories of others who’ve survived unimaginable circumstances. But this isn’t just a story about Ukraine — it’s a story about what everyday people can do when they refuse to give up.

Around the world, ordinary citizens are stepping into the gaps left by hesitant or overwhelmed governments. Volunteers are on the front lines in Ukraine, delivering supplies, providing medical aid and documenting the truth. Refugee advocates are helping displaced families find homes and hope. Activists in other crisis zones are organizing grassroots efforts to defend human rights, protect the environment, and fight for justice.

These efforts may not solve every problem, but they remind us of what’s possible. Even small actions — a donation, a letter, a call to an elected official — can ripple outward in ways we can’t imagine.

In the face of uncertainty, it’s tempting to feel powerless. But my friend’s story taught me that power doesn’t always come from institutions or governments. It comes from people who are willing to act, to take risks and to do what’s right, even when the odds seem stacked against them.

As the world watches the war in Ukraine and wonders what will happen next, I hope my friend’s story inspires others. We don’t have to wait for perfect conditions or official solutions. The future belongs to those who refuse to stand on the sidelines.

Marin resident Ken Pontac is creative supervisor at Autistry Studios in San Rafael. For more information on the documentary go to outfromtheashes.film.